Hello, and welcome back! The weather is fickle here this spring. It was hot enough for summer apparel just a couple of weeks ago, but now it's cool and windy again, much more seasonable even if it is still too dry. The colder weather doesn't make for good gardening weather, so my herbs and flowers that have already been up for weeks will have to wait just a little longer for my attention while I stay inside and catch up on my reading. And, for those of you who're new here, any books I get that don't merit full review space here, I list over in the forum.

This time out, I have the latest from Lori Wilde, The Cowboy Takes a Bride (Avon, received from publisher), the first in her "Jubilee, Texas" series. Mariah Callahan has come to Jubilee after learning she's inherited her late, and estranged, father's ranch. The news is good and bad, as Mariah's been fired from her job as assistant wedding planner in Chicago. But Texas? Joe Daniels loved her dad Dutch like the old man was his own father, but since the death of his wife, Joe's kept others at arm's length. When Mariah comes to town, they're bound to butt heads, over her ranch, over her father. Over the sparks that fly between them. While Mariah doesn't plan to stay in Jubilee, she is persuaded it might be the place for a fresh start, something that might include a wedding chapel where she can plan weddings for the locals. If only she can get past her fear of relationships, and if only Joe can get over his past. Joe is terrific, and this story is full of characters you're going to want to revisit in the next books in the series. These two are stubborn and wary, and when they finally do give in to their feelings, it's amazing. Who doesn't love a cowboy? Mariah sure can't resist this one, no matter how hard she tries, and that's a very good thing for the reader, who'll get to fall in love right along with her. I'm borrowing four of Cupid's five arrows for this one and cannot wait to read the next book in the series later this year. If you enjoyed her "Twilight, Texas" series, you're going to love this one, too.

Until next time, happy reading!